<PAGE>

Exhibit 10.9

               WARRANT CERTIFICATE FOR PURCHASE OF COMMON STOCK
                                      OF
                             GATEFIELD CORPORATION


     This certifies that Benjamin Huberman (the "Holder"), in consideration 
of the sum of One Dollar ($1.00) and other good and valuable consideration, 
the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, and subject to the provisions 
hereinafter set forth, is entitled to purchase from GateField Corporation 
(the "Company") Seven Thousand Five Hundred (7,500) fully paid and 
nonassessable shares of the Company's Common Stock, $.10 par value (such 
stock being hereinafter referred to as the "Common Stock" and such Common 
Stock as may be acquired upon exercise hereof being hereinafter referred to 
as the "Warrant Stock"), at the price of One Dollar and Forty-Four Cents 
($1.44) per share (the Last Sale Price of the Company's common stock on 
November 25, 1997, the effective date of the grant).

This Warrant is subject to the following provisions, terms and conditions:

1.   EXERCISE AND ISSUANCE.  This Warrant may be exercised in whole or in part
     (but not as to any fractional share of Common Stock) at any time commencing
     six (6) months from the date hereof (the "Issue Date") until the eighth
     anniversary of the Issue Date.  This Warrant shall not be exercised as to
     any part of the shares covered thereby until six (6) months from the Issue
     Date of this Warrant at which time the Warrant may be exercised as to one
     hundred percent (100%) of such shares. The rights represented by this
     Warrant may be exercised by the Holder by written notice of exercise
     delivered to the Treasurer of the Company at the principal office of the
     Company accompanied by this Warrant (properly endorsed, if required) and
     payment to it, by cash, certified check or bank draft, of the purchase
     price of the shares of Warrant Stock being purchased.  The Company agrees
     that the Warrant Stock so purchased shall be and is deemed to be issued as
     of the close of business on the date on which this Warrant shall have been
     surrendered and payment made for such Warrant Stock as aforesaid. 
     Certificates for the shares of Warrant Stock so purchased shall be
     delivered to the Holder within a reasonable time, not exceeding fifteen
     (15) days after the rights represented by this Warrant shall have been so
     exercised, and, unless this Warrant has expired, a new Warrant representing
     the number of shares of Warrant Stock, if any, with respect to which this
     Warrant has not been exercised shall also be delivered to the Holder within
     such time.

2.   RIGHT TO CONVERT WARRANT INTO STOCK:  NET ISSUANCE.

     (a)  In addition to and without limiting the rights of the holder under the
          terms of this Warrant, the holder may elect to convert this Warrant or
          any portion thereof (the "Conversion Right") into shares of Common
          Stock, 

                                                                             1
<PAGE>

          the aggregate value of which shares shall be equal to the value
          of this Warrant or the portion thereof being converted.  The
          Conversion Right may be exercised by the holder by surrender of this
          Warrant at the principal office of the Company together with notice of
          the holder's intention to exercise the Conversion Right, in which
          event the Company shall issue to the holder a number of shares of the
          Company's Common Stock computed using the following formula:
                    
                  Y  -    B x Y   =   X
                         -------
                            A

Where:  X =  The number of shares of Common Stock to be issued to the holder.

        Y =  The number of shares of Common Stock purchasable under this 
             Warrant subject to the exercise election.

        A =  The fair market value of one share of the Company's Common Stock.

        B =  Exercise Price (as adjusted to the date of such calculations).

     (b)    For purposes of this Section 2, the "fair market value" per share 
            of the Company's Common Stock shall mean:

     (i)    If the Common Stock is traded on a national securities exchange 
            or admitted to unlisted trading privileges on such an exchange, 
            or is listed on the National Market System (the "National Market 
            System") of the National Association of Securities Dealers 
            Automated Quotations System (the "NASDAQ"), the fair market value 
            shall be the last reported sale price of the Common Stock on such 
            exchange or on the National Market System on the last trading day 
            before the effective date of exercise of the Conversion Right or 
            if no such sale is made on any such day, the mean of the closing 
            bid and asked prices for such day on such exchange or on the 
            National Market System;

     (ii)   If the Common Stock is not so listed or admitted to unlisted
            trading privileges, the fair market value shall be the average of
            the mean of the last bid and asked prices reported on the last
            trading day before the date of the election (1) by the NASDAQ or
            (2) if reports are unavailable under clause (1) above, by the
            National Quotation Bureau Incorporated; and

     (iii)  If the Common Stock is not so listed or admitted to unlisted
            trading privileges and bid and ask prices are not reported, the
            fair market value shall be the price per share which the Company
            could obtain from a willing buyer for shares sold by the Company

                                                                             2
<PAGE>

            from authorized but unissued shares, as such price shall be
            determined by mutual agreement of the Company and the holder of
            this Warrant.

3.   NOTICES OF RECORD DATE.  In the event of any taking by the Company of a
     record of its shareholders for the purpose of determining shareholders who
     are entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution, any
     right to subscribe for, purchase or otherwise acquire any share of any
     class or any other securities or property, or to receive any other right,
     or for the purpose of determining shareholders who are entitled to vote in
     connection with any proposed merger or consolidation of the Company with or
     into any other corporation, or any proposed sale, lease or conveyance of
     all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, or any proposed
     liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, then, in connection
     with each such event, the Company shall mail to the holder of this Warrant
     at least twenty (20) days prior written notice of the date on which any
     such record is to be taken for the purpose of such dividend, distribution,
     right(s) or vote of the shareholders.  Each such written notice shall
     specify the amount and character of any such dividend, distribution or
     right(s), and shall set forth, in reasonable detail, the matter requiring
     any such vote of the shareholders.

4.   COMPLIANCE WITH SECURITIES ACT; DISPOSITION OF WARRANT OR SHARES OF
     COMMON STOCK.

     (a)    COMPLIANCE WITH SECURITIES ACT.  The holder of this Warrant, by
            acceptance hereof, agrees that this Warrant, the Warrant Stock to
            be issued upon exercise hereof are being acquired for investment
            and that such holder will not offer, sell or otherwise dispose of
            this Warrant or any Warrant Stock to be issued upon exercise hereof
            except under circumstances which will not result in a violation of
            the Securities Act.  This Warrant and all Warrant Stock issued upon
            exercise of this Warrant (unless registered under the Securities
            Act) shall be stamped or imprinted with a legend in substantially
            the following form:

     THIS SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS
     AMENDED.  NO SALE OR DISPOSITION MAY BE EFFECTED WITHOUT (i) AN EFFECTIVE
     REGISTRATION STATEMENT RELATED THERETO, (ii) AN OPINION OF COUNSEL FOR THE
     HOLDER THAT SUCH REGISTRATION IS NOT REQUIRED OR (iii) RECEIPT OF A
     NO-ACTION LETTER FROM THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION TO THE EFFECT
     THAT REGISTRATION UNDER THE ACT IS NOT REQUIRED.

     (b)    DISPOSITION OF WARRANT AND SHARES OF WARRANT STOCK.  With respect
            to any offer, sale or other disposition of this Warrant or any
            Shares of Warrant Stock 

                                                                             3
<PAGE>

            acquired pursuant to the exercise of this Warrant prior to 
            registration thereof, the holder hereof and each subsequent 
            holder of this Warrant agrees to give written notice to the 
            Company prior thereto, describing briefly the manner thereof, 
            together with a written opinion of such holder's counsel, if 
            reasonably requested by the Company, to the effect that such 
            offer, sale or other disposition may be effected without 
            registration or qualification (under the Securities Act as then 
            in effect or any federal or state law then in effect) of this 
            Warrant or such Shares and indicating whether or not under the 
            Securities Act certificates for this Warrant or such Shares of 
            Warrant Stock to be sold or otherwise disposed of require any 
            restrictive legend as to applicable restrictions on 
            transferability in order to insure compliance with the Securities 
            Act.  Each certificate representing this Warrant or the Shares of 
            Warrant Stock thus transferred (except a transfer pursuant to 
            Rule 144) shall bear a legend as to the applicable restrictions 
            on transferability in order to insure compliance with the 
            Securities Act unless, in the aforesaid opinion of counsel for 
            the holder, such legend is not required in order to insure 
            compliance with the Securities Act.  Nothing herein shall 
            restrict the transfer of this Warrant or any portion hereof by 
            the initial holder hereof to any partnership affiliated with the 
            initial holder, or to any partner of any such partnership 
            provided such transfer may be made in compliance with applicable 
            federal and state securities laws.  The Company may issue stop 
            transfer instructions to its transfer agent in connection with 
            the foregoing restrictions.

5.   COVENANTS OF COMPANY.  The Company covenants and agrees that all shares 
     of Warrant Stock that may be issued upon the exercise of the rights
     represented by this Warrant will, upon issuance, be duly authorized and
     issued, fully paid and nonassessable and free from all liens and charges
     with respect to the issuance thereof.  The Company further covenants and
     agrees that until expiration of this Warrant, the Company will at all times
     have authorized and reserved for the purpose of issuance or transfer upon
     exercise of the fights evidenced by this Warrant, a sufficient number of
     shares of Common Stock to provide for the exercise of the rights
     represented by this Warrant.

6.   EXERCISE PRICE AND SHARE ADJUSTMENTS.  The initial number of shares of
     Common Stock purchasable upon exercise of this Warrant and the exercise
     price payable therefor shall be subject to adjustment from time to time, 
     as provided below:

     (a)    In case the Company shall at any time hereafter subdivide or
            combine the outstanding shares of Common Stock or declare a
            dividend payable in Common Stock, the total number of shares of
            Common Stock purchasable upon the exercise of this Warrant shall be
            adjusted so that the Holder shall be entitled to receive the number
            of shares of Common Stock which the Holder would have owned or have
            been entitled to receive immediately following any of the events
            described above had this Warrant been exercised 

                                                                             4
<PAGE>

            in full immediately prior to any such event.  An adjustment made 
            pursuant to this Section 3(a) shall, in the case of a subdivision 
            or combination, be made as of the effective date thereof, and in 
            the case of a stock dividend, become effective as of the record 
            date therefore.  In the event of any such adjustment of the total 
            number of shares of Common Stock purchasable upon the exercise of 
            this Warrant, the exercise price shall be adjusted to be the 
            amount resulting from dividing the number of shares of Common 
            Stock covered by this Warrant immediately after such adjustment 
            into the total amount payable upon exercise of this Warrant in 
            full immediately prior to such adjustment.

     (b)    If any capital reorganization or reclassification of the capital
            stock of the Company (other than a subdivision or combination
            referred to in Section 3(a) hereof), or consolidation or merger of
            the Company with another corporation, or the sale of all or
            substantially all of its assets to another corporation shall be
            effected in such a way that holders of Common Stock shall be
            entitled to receive stock, securities or assets with respect to or
            in exchange for such Common Stock, then, as a condition of such
            reorganization, reclassification, consolidation, merger or sale,
            the Holder shall have the right to purchase and receive upon the
            basis and upon the terms and conditions specified in this Warrant
            and in lieu of the Common Stock immediately theretofore purchasable
            and receivable upon the exercise of the rights represented hereby,
            such shares of stock, securities or assets as would have been
            issued or delivered to the Holder if he had exercised this Warrant
            and had received upon exercise of this Warrant the Common Stock
            prior to such reorganization, reclassification, consolidation,
            merger or sale.  The Company shall not effect any such
            consolidation, merger or sale, unless prior to the consummation
            thereof the successor corporation (if other than the Company)
            resulting from such consolidation or merger or the corporation
            purchasing such assets shall assume by written instrument executed
            and mailed to the Holder at the last address of the Holder
            appearing on the books of the Company, the obligation to deliver to
            the Holder such shares of stock, securities or assets as, in
            accordance with the foregoing provisions, the Holder may be
            entitled to purchase.

     (c)    If the Company takes any other action, or if any other event occurs
            which does not come within the scope of the provisions of Sections
            3(a) or 3(b), but which should result in an adjustment in the
            exercise price and/or the number of shares subject to the Warrant
            in order to fairly protect the purchase rights of the Holder, an
            appropriate adjustment in such purchase fights shall be made by the
            Company.

     (d)    No fractional shares of Common Stock are to be issued upon the
            exercise of this Warrant, but the Company shall pay a cash
            adjustment in respect of any fraction of a share which would
            otherwise be issuable in an amount equal 

                                                                             5
<PAGE>

            to the same fraction of the market price per share of Common 
            Stock on the date of exercise.

     (e)    Upon any adjustment of the exercise price or number of shares
            purchasable hereunder, the Company shall give written notice
            thereof, by first class mail, postage prepaid, addressed to the
            Holder at the address of the Holder as shown on the books of the
            Company, which notice shall state the Warrant exercise price
            resulting from such adjustment and the increase or decrease, if
            any, in the number of shares purchasable at such price upon the
            exercise of this Warrant, setting forth in reasonable detail the
            method of calculation and the facts upon which such calculation is
            based.

7.   HOLDER NOT DEEMED A STOCKHOLDER.  The Holder shall not be entitled to vote
     on or be deemed the holder of Common Stock or any other securities which
     may at any time be issuable on the exercise hereof for any purpose, nor
     shall anything contained herein be construed to confer upon the Holder any
     of the rights of a stockholder of the Company or any right to vote for the
     election of directors or upon any matter submitted to stockholders at any
     meeting thereof, or give or withhold consent to any corporate action
     (whether upon any recapitalization, issue of stock, reclassification of
     stock, change of par value or change of stock to no par value,
     consolidation, merger, conveyance or otherwise) or to receive notice of
     meetings or other actions affecting stockholders, or to receive dividends
     or subscription rights or other-wise, until the rights to purchase Warrant
     Stock hereunder shall have been exercised.

8.   NONTRANSFERABILITY.  This Warrant is not transferable, in whole or in part,
     and is exercisable only by the Holder or by the Holder's representative or
     executor in the event of the Holder's death.

9.   INVESTMENT INTENT.  The Holder acknowledges and agrees that this Warrant
     and any shares of Warrant Stock which may be acquired upon exercise hereof
     are being or will be acquired for investment purposes and not with a view
     toward the distribution or sale thereof.  The Holder acknowledges that this
     Warrant and the Warrant Stock will not be registered under either federal
     or applicable state securities laws and that the Company will be relying
     upon the foregoing investment representation in agreeing to issue this
     Warrant and the Warrant Stock to the Holder.  The Holder acknowledges that
     transferability of the Warrant Stock will be subject to restrictions
     imposed by all applicable federal and state securities laws and agrees that
     the certificates evidencing the Warrant Stock may be imprinted with an
     appropriate legend setting forth these restrictions on transferability.

10.  AMENDMENT.  This Warrant and any term hereof may be changed, waived,
     discharged or terminated only by means of an instrument in writing signed
     by the party against which enforcement of the change, waiver, discharge or
     termination is sought.

                                                                             6
<PAGE>

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, GateField Corporation has caused this Warrant
     Certificate to be signed by its Corporate Secretary and has caused its 
     corporate seal to be imprinted hereon.


Date: November 25, 1997                  GATEFIELD CORPORATION
                                         (the "Company")


                                         By:  /S/ DOUGLAS E. KLINT
                                              --------------------
                                              Douglas E. Klint           
                                              Corporate Secretary        

Accepted by:


/s/ Benjamin Huberman
---------------------
Benjamin Huberman




                                                                             7